Review into why Warwick special school had interim executive board to likely take place

A review into why a Warwick special school had an interim executive board put in place is likely to take place later this year.

Cllr John Holland (Lab, Warwick West) asked for the matter to be looked into after being told that financial issues had prompted the decision at Round Oak Secondary School, in Brittain Lane.

Speaking at this week’s meeting of Warwickshire County Council’s children and young people overview and scrutiny committee, Cllr Holland said: “At the recent cabinet meeting it was suggested that it was imposed for financial reasons and I know that’s not the case.”

He explained that internal audits showed that the school - which is to be merged with the nearby Ridgeway School in September - had been in surplus both in the current financial year and in the previous year so there had been no concerns.

He added: “I also know that it is in the public domain that Ofsted had visited and found it to be a good school.

“Why was the IEB imposed on a school which was financially sound and offered good quality education? I am not looking to blame anyone - if we get into a blame culture we become paralysed.

"We need to know what has happened here so that if an IEB is to be considered in the future we have the correct approach which is going to support and help the education of our pupils and students.

“What I am asking is if you would carry out a scrutiny review of the IEB for Round Oak with a view to a code of practice for when an IEB becomes a possibility.”

Councillors attending the virtual meeting agreed that the matter be added to the work programme for the committee to investigate.

Cllr Colin Hayfield (Con, Coleshill South and Arley), the portfolio holder for education and learning, said such a review might help councillors understand the reasoning for an IEB being put in place.

He explained: “They are not an everyday occurrence and usually a culmination of a significant concern or a series of concerns about a school. It requires the regional schools commissioner to sign off the IEB, it’s not something we can just impose as a local authority.

“I think the issues relating to Round Oak were explored to a certain extent within the cabinet report dealing with the amalgamation of the two schools but I would be quite happy for members to better understand the reasons that might lead to an IEB being put in place and what a school might have to do to have that removed.

“They are there to see a school through what is perceived to be a difficult period."